Blog Posts by Holly Robinson Peete, Shine staff

It's not just the leaves that switch up their look come fall. On today's episode of Real-Life Makeover, makeup pro, Julie Murray, is showing one mom how to rock our favorite fall colors.



NUDE FACE, BOLD LIPS
"I'm a firm believer that if you're going to have a dramatic eye, keep your lips neutral, and vice versa," says Julie. Otherwise, you run the risk of makeup overload. For fall, try pairing a neutral eye, with a rich, luxurious color on your lips, like a deep burgundy.

PROTECT AND PERFECT SKIN
Just because you're not hanging at the beach doesn't mean you get a free pass on skin protection. Always remember to prime your skin with some SPF. "It's important when you're choosing your foundation color that you match to your natural skin tones," says Julie. Even out your skin with a foundation that makes your skin look radiant and provides a bit of sun protection, to boot.

CHOOSE YOUR COLORS FROM NATURE
When I asked Julie about the season's hottest makeup colors, she suggested we

We've all seen sitcoms where a towel drops to the bathroom floor and our heroine is beset with a shrieking "OMG, my hair!" moment of terror. Here, how to avoid hair color trauma and tears with five simple tips.

SKIP THE DRAMA
If you've got Cher black hair, here's the truth: you're not going to become Gwen Stefani at home. Drastic changes seldom work in your own bathroom (didn't you see that episode of 90210?). Don't go more than two shades in either direction. Home color works best for people who want a subtle change or to cover up grays. Save the who's-that-girl? style transformations for the pros.

DECODE THE BOX
Like the color on the box? Cool, but you're going to need to decode the language on the box like a Girl Scout studying a map key. You know the color's black, brown, red, or blond. That's the easy part. Now look for the other defining clues to see how the color will look on you. Is the shade light, medium, or dark? Is the tone warm or cool?

BE TRUE TO YOUR NATURAL COLORING

Mary Poppins had her bag of tricks. Now you can keep your own stealth beauty tools in your purse at all times to keep you safe from makeup mayhem.



#1 Moisturizing Cream

The change from hot humid weather to fall's cooler temperatures can dry out your skin. Keep a small tube of moisturizer on hand to make dry, cracked hands supple again, of course. But did you know moisturizer can help tame those flyaways, too?

#2 Eyelash Curler

An eyelash curler is one of those steps lots of women skip but makeup artists swear is the key to a wide, bright-eyed look. Don't be scared of this medieval-looking device--once you see how great your peepers look, you won't stay away.

#3 Blotting Papers

There's a fine line between a gorgeous glow and just plain greasy. To stay on the right side, blot these paper squares over your face to soak up shine without messing up your makeup. (Bathroom paper towels or tissue toilet covers can also work wonders in a pinch!)

#4 Eye Drops

If you're staring at a computer

On this episode of Real-Life Makeover, we've got five fall beauty foods that will help improve your skin, hair, and health this season. Get ready for a diet and beauty makeover in one go.





#1 PUMPKINS
They're not just for jack o' lanterns and front porches. Pumpkins are low in calories, fat, and sodium, and pack a wallop of nutrition that can help you look and feel your best. Vitamin A promotes skin healing, vitamin C is a terrific antioxidant, and zinc aids in cellular regeneration. Remember to toast the seeds for a great snack.

#2 KALE
Don't shy from this leafy green. Kale is loaded with antioxidants that help increase and promote the collagen level in your skin cells, which leads to better-looking skin tone and texture. Because it's also a high-alkaline food, it helps boost your immune system. Saute with garlic and olive oil for the a quick and delicious, good-for-you dinner side dish.

#3 WINTER SQUASH
Winter squash have a lot going for them. These gourds are rich in fiber,

Schedule too nutty to get to the gym? We've got five foolproof exercises you can do anywhere that will get you feeling strong, boost metabolism and burn calories.



#1 WAIST TRIMMER
Sit towards the edge of a chair with your back perfectly straight and your hips firmly planted. Hold on to a water bottle, a book, or a dumbbell with both hands at chest-level. Keeping your hips still and squared toward the front, rotate your torso to the left, then back to center, and to the right. Keep abs contracted and use a slow, controlled motion so that your abs and obliques--not your arms--do the work. Rotate to each side 15-20 times and complete 2-3 sets.

#2 COUNTER PUSH-UPS
Assist your push-ups by doing them against any counter, desk or sturdy table rather than on the floor. Keeping elbows in and legs straight, do 2-3 sets of 15-20 push-ups.

#3 QUICK BOOTY SQUAT
Sit on the edge of a chair with feet shoulder-distance apart and shins parallel. Be careful to not let your knees extend past your

If your portions are super-sized, healthy foods can result in the same unwanted pounds as burgers and fries. But you don't need to carry around a travel set of measuring cups to make over your serving size. On today's Real-Life Makeover, we've got six ways your hand can help you keep a grip on your portion sizes.



SIZE UP YOUR PROTEIN
Protein fuels our energy and helps build strong muscles. Use the area and thickness of your palm to eyeball how much chicken, fish or tofu you should be eating in a single sitting.

SIZE UP YOUR VEGGIES
What should accompany your protein? Scoop up two fist-sized portions of fresh veggies for a ton of nutrients and antioxidants.

SIZE UP YOUR SALAD
Use both your hands like serving spoons to lift up a big portion of leafy greens. To give yourself about a tablespoon of dressing, use the length of your thumb as a guideline.

SIZE UP YOUR FRUIT
When you're figuring out how many berries to pile on top of your morning yogurt, fill your hand for just the right

A new school year means new after school snacks! We're ditching the old-standbys for three quick and creative cures for the afternoon munchies.




#1 TOASTY TOMATO BOATS

Hollow out sourdough rolls (keep the tops!) to make a bread bowl and fill with tomato soup. Layer a slice of your cheese of choice over the soup (I like sharp cheddar), pop the bread "lids" back on, and slide into a 350 degree oven. When the boats take on a gorgeous golden hue and the cheese is melted, your soup boats are done. Just grab the spoons!

#2 PITA OF THE SEA

This snack's got that irresistible mix of sweet and salty. In a medium bowl, mix a can of drained tuna with a couple teaspoons of mayo and half of a diced green apple. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and then scoop into a pita pocket. Add a leaf of lettuce for some extra crunch and serve with remaining apple slices.

#3 FUN FOREST TOWERS

The kids will go crazy for this one. In a small bowl, stir some chopped peanuts with chocolate spread. Place

One of the way to calm back-to-school nerves is to make sure your child is prepared. Danielle is mom to six-year-old Carter, who is about to start the first grade. We're loading Carter up with everything he needs for the momentous first day and having some creative fun by adding personalized touches to his backpack. This is Real-Life Makeover, Backpack Edition!



ALL THE SUPPLIES
We've first got to make sure the backpack is filled with everything Carter needs to learn his "Three Rs." He can jazz up his notebook by sliding a drawing into the front. And while we want him to learn his 'rithmetic the hard way (hey, we had to), sometimes a calculator comes in handy. Last but not least, fill up a durable pencil case with crayons, markers, scissors, erasers, and pencils.

FIRST AID KIT
Serious injuries and ailments warrant a trip to the nurse's office, but for chapped lips and paper cuts, it never hurts to put a little first aid kit in your child's backpack (okay, and it puts Mom's mind at